A Russian TV editor who ran onto the set of the state channel's news broadcast with sign reading 'Stop the war! Don't believe propaganda! They're lying to you here!' has reportedly been arrested.
Marina Ovsyannikova has been hailed as 'the bravest woman in Russia' for her protest, live on Channel One. And Belarusian media outlet Nexta has said that "she's already been arrested" after the incident at the TV studios in Ostankino, Moscow
Russia recently passed a law that criminalises the distribution of what the regime views as "fake news" about the Russian military, with those convicted facing up to 15 years in prison. State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin reportedly said the law would prohibit information that "discredits the use of the Russian Armed Forces."
In a video she posted on social media before her protest, Marina Ovsyannikova said: "What is currently happening in Ukraine is a crime. Russia is a country-aggressor.
"All responsibility for this aggression lies on the conscience of one person: Vladimir Putin. My father is Ukrainian, my mother is Russian. They were never enemies."
"This necklace around my neck signifies that Russia should immediately stop this fratricidal war and our brotherly nations can make peace with each other.
"Unfortunately, for the last several years I worked at Channel One, promoting Kremlin propaganda and for that I am very ashamed right now.
"I am ashamed that I allowed lies to be told from TV screens, that I allowed Russian people to be zombified. We stayed quiet when all of this was just getting started in 2014.
"We didn't come out to protest when the Kremlin poisoned Navalny. We continued to quietly watch this inhumane regime.
"Now the whole world turned away from us. Ten generations of our descendants won't be able to wash away the shame of this fratricidal war."
Her protest has seen Marina praise around the world with twitter use angeldelight hailing her as "the bravest woman in Russia".
In a tweet, she claimed: "Praising Ovsiannikova ignores the YEARS of horrific damage she has helped do to Ukraine. Don’t be such dupes for buying into a fake mea culpa by a Russian war criminal who has been instrumental in helping wage a war of aggression against Ukraine."
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
